Students of Motilal Nehru Government Polytechnic College in Lawspet staged a demonstration near the Puducherry Institute of Post-Matric Technical Education (PIPMATE) demanding withdrawal of the decision to admit diploma holders through lateral entry for B Tech courses based on their marks. They wanted the government to conduct a separate entrance exam for all lateral entries.
The students belonging to SFI said that the government decision would favour private polytechnic students, who would be awarded higher marks, especially in the practicals.
Student leader Anand said the government should withdraw the decision immediately and revert to the competitive examination system to fill the 10 per cent reserved seats for polytechnic diploma holders in B Tech course.
He also claimed that the students cannot choose the course of their choice under the mark-based admission in the lateral entry scheme.
The student representatives also met Director of Higher and Technical Education Karikalan and urged him to revert to competitive examination for admission. The director told them that he would take up the matter with the government as it was a policy decision.
Meanwhile, CPI activists resorted to picketing near the Puducherry Municiplal Commissioner’s office demanding basic amenities in the eighth ward of Thiruvalluvar Nagar. Puducherry Municpal Commissioner Rajamanickam assured the agitators that their grievances would be addressed.
In another spot, the functionaries of CPI (M), led by Balasubramanian, demonstrated near the Civil Supplies Department office, protesting the Direct Cash Transfer scheme of the Central government.